6 million Migrants Deprive of Participating in Election: IEC
Independent Election Commission (IEC) officials say the commission has no plan for immigrants abroad, and about 6 million migrants living abroad are unable to participate in elections.
Independent Election Commission (IEC) officials say the commission has no plan for immigrants abroad, and about 6 million migrants living abroad are unable to participate in elections.
This comes as the 5th article of the Afghanistan electoral law says “Kuchis, immigrants, the employees of political representatives living abroad, military officials and qualified prisoners have the right to cast their vote in separate polling centers created by the commission.”
Despite the law, the IEC said it does not have the technical capacity and necessary budget for migrants living in foreign countries, therefore, they will be unable to attend the parliamentary and district council elections scheduled for 20 October.
“the IEC faces technical problems in providing the grounds for immigrants to participate in the election,” said Ma’azullah Dawlati, a commissioner of the IEC.
In order to provide the ground for immigrants to participate in the election outside the country, the ballot papers of candidates of 34 provinces should be transferred outside the country, but the commission’s operating plan does not allow it.
The residents of the country are getting the preparation to polling centers three months later and elect their representatives for the parliament and district councils.
